Since our publication of "The Letters of CharlesDickens" we have received the letters addressed tothe late Lord Lytton, which we were unable to procurein time for our first two volumes in consequence ofhis son's absence in India. We thank the Earl ofLytton cordially for his kindness in sending them tous very soon after his return. We also offer oursincere thanks to Sir Austen H. Layard, and to thesenders of many other letters, which we now publishfor the first time.
With a view to making our selection as completeas possible, we have collected together the letters fromCharles Dickens which have already been publishedin various Biographies, and have chosen and placedin chronological order among our new letters thosewhich we consider to be of the greatest interest.
As our Narrative was finished in our second volume,this volume consists of Letters only, with occasionalfoot-notes wherever there are allusions requiringexplanation.